Jointly organized by the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center, Nepal, and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the meeting highlighted shared regional priorities. Participants discussed challenges, exchanged technical insights, and explored coordinated strategies to enhance TB and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts across SAARC member states.
Jointly organized by the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center, Nepal, and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the meeting highlighted shared regional priorities. Participants discussed challenges, exchanged technical insights, and explored coordinated strategies to enhance TB and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts across SAARC member states.
Jointly organized by the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center, Nepal, and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the meeting highlighted shared regional priorities. Participants discussed challenges, exchanged technical insights, and explored coordinated strategies to enhance TB and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts across SAARC member states.
On 4th December 2025 Parliament Secretary Mr. Nelson Azeem visited the Common Management Unit (CMU) and held discussions with key officials, including DNC Dr. Abdul Wali Khan, Dr. Bilal Ahmed, Dr. Faisal Siraj, Dr. Ahmed Ismail, Dr. Abdul Raheem, and Dr. Seema Saifuddin. The meeting focused on reviewing program progress and achievements, addressing challenges and obstacles, and outlining future plans and strategies.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Common Management Unit (CMU) for AIDS, TB & Malaria, in collaboration with WHO and UNAIDS, organised a World AIDS Day Awareness Walk on 1st December 2025 under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
The walk brought together partners, stakeholders, and community members to show solidarity and highlight Pakistan’s commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. Senior officials, including the Director General Health (Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination), the Deputy National Coordinator-CMU, the WHO Representative (WR), and the UNAIDS Country Representative, joined the event, reaffirming strong leadership and support for the national HIV response and to urge collective and individual action against a public health threat affecting 350,000 people in Pakistan – 80% of whom are unaware of their HIV status.
World AIDS Day 2025 marks a critical moment for global reflection and reaffirmation of our collective commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat. Despite major advances over the past decades, many people still face disruptions in accessing prevention, treatment and support services. The World Health Organization’s 2025 call to action reminds us of the urgency to overcome service gaps, strengthen health systems, and place human rights at the centre of the response. This year’s focus inspires us to rebuild, rethink and rise together so that no individual or community is left behind.
Across many regions, persistent inequalities, funding limitations and service disruptions continue to affect timely access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention. Rebuilding requires strong, community-rooted health systems that can deliver reliable care even during crises. Integrated programmes that link HIV, STI, hepatitis and maternal health services are essential for sustained progress. Durable financing, committed leadership and coordinated action remain key to ensuring that individuals and communities receive consistent, high-quality care.
In Pakistan, the Common Management Unit (CMU) for Global Fund (HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria), under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination along with key partners like WHO, UNAIDS, APLHIV, UNDP, UNICEF, UNODC, and USAID along with provincial partners, has played a central role in strengthening the national HIV response. Through well-coordinated provincial and federal efforts, Pakistan has expanded HIV testing and treatment centres, improved access to ARVs, strengthened surveillance systems, and enhanced community outreach. The partnership has also supported innovative digital health tools, better data-driven decision-making, and the integration of HIV services within wider public health programmes. This collective commitment demonstrates how strong governance, sustained donor support and technical expertise can transform the national response and ensure continuity of essential services.
The global call to expand self-testing, digital tools and community-based service delivery reflects a growing shift toward more accessible and inclusive HIV programming. Rethinking also means removing structural barriers such as stigma, discrimination, gender inequality and criminalization of certain behaviours, which often prevent people from seeking care. Transforming the HIV response requires policies that protect dignity, confidentiality and equity. When communities are empowered as partners, innovation becomes meaningful and impactful.
Stigma remains one of the most significant obstacles to ending AIDS. People living with HIV still encounter judgement, fear and exclusion in healthcare facilities, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. Rising against stigma involves promoting accurate information, building compassion and ensuring that every person receives respect and confidentiality. A supportive, stigma-free environment encourages individuals to test early, adhere to treatment and participate fully in daily life. Ending stigma is essential for both individual wellbeing and national progress.
World AIDS Day 2025 is a reminder that progress depends on collective action. Governments must continue prioritizing resilient health systems, civil society must amplify the voices of affected communities and individuals must commit to compassion, respect and understanding. Ending AIDS requires a united approach grounded in justice, inclusion and solidarity. The values of rebuilding, rethinking and rising together provide a pathway toward a future where prevention, treatment and care are accessible for all.
As the world reflects on the milestones and remaining challenges of the HIV response, the message of World AIDS Day 2025 is clear: disruptions must not determine our future. With strengthened systems, innovative strategies and continued collaboration between national institutions like CMU, global partners such as the Global Fund, and communities across Pakistan, an AIDS-free generation is possible. Let this day remind us of our responsibility to safeguard health, dignity and equality for every person. Together, we can rebuild awareness, rethink harmful norms and rise toward a stronger, more inclusive future.
#RebuildRethinkRise #OvercomingDisruption
Stigma surrounding HIV remains one of the most persistent challenges in public health. Although medical advancements have transformed HIV into a manageable condition, social attitudes have not progressed at the same pace. Fear, misinformation, and negative perceptions continue to shape how individuals living with HIV are treated in their families, communities, workplaces, and even schools. These misconceptions create barriers that prevent people from seeking care, adhering to treatment, or feeling safe enough to speak about their needs. Addressing stigma is not simply a matter of awareness, but a crucial step in protecting health, dignity, and human rights.
Many individuals living with HIV face unfair treatment in their daily lives. They may encounter judgmental attitudes in healthcare settings, hesitation from service providers, or exclusion from essential support systems. In some cases, people are refused services, spoken to harshly, or treated as though they pose a risk to others, even though HIV does not spread through casual contact, sharing food, or normal social interactions. Such behaviour reinforces fear and discourages people from seeking timely testing and care. Upholding privacy, confidentiality, and respectful conduct is essential for ensuring dignified treatment and equal access for all.
Children living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to stigma. They often struggle with isolation, confusion, or reduced support when teachers, peers, or adults around them lack correct information. Some children may find themselves excluded from play or classroom activities due to unfounded fears about transmission. Others face practical challenges, such as long travel distances to treatment facilities or limited emotional support within their communities. In contrast, when families, schools, and neighbours provide encouragement and inclusion, children thrive. They remain engaged in school, social activities, and treatment, reinforcing how supportive environments shape better outcomes.
Another critical aspect of improving the lives of people living with HIV is ensuring consistent treatment adherence. Antiretroviral therapy, when taken regularly, reduces the viral load to undetectable levels and allows individuals to lead long, healthy lives. However, stigma often disrupts adherence. People may hide their medication, skip doses due to shame, or avoid visiting health centres because they fear being recognised or judged. Creating supportive spaces, offering counselling, and encouraging open communication empower individuals to follow their treatment confidently and consistently.
Ultimately, stigma causes more harm than the condition itself. It isolates individuals, damages mental and emotional wellbeing, and undermines public health goals by pushing people away from services. Ending stigma requires collective action. Families, teachers, healthcare workers, community members, and leaders must work together to promote accurate knowledge, show compassion, and uphold the rights of every person, regardless of HIV status. When communities reject discrimination and embrace supportive, informed attitudes, people living with HIV are better able to access care, maintain treatment, and live full, dignified lives.
HIV is a manageable health condition, but stigma remains a significant obstacle that continues to harm individuals and weaken the national response. By fostering understanding, empathy, and respect, society can create an environment where every person feels safe, valued, and supported. Reducing stigma is essential for improving quality of life, strengthening public health efforts, and moving closer to the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat. A future free from discrimination begins with informed, compassionate communities.
Understanding HIV is the first step toward prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment. The FAQs provide clear guidance on how HIV spreads, how it can be prevented, symptoms to watch for, available testing services, and the importance of timely antiretroviral therapy. They also address stigma, children’s care needs, and common misconceptions, ensuring communities receive accurate, reliable information to stay protected and support those living with HIV.
